2 Quadrupeds. 
genus by the uniformity of his colour, the mane which 
decorates the male, and a tuft of hair at the tip of the 
tail, which conceals a small prickle or claw. 
Lions were formerly found in all the hot and warmer 
temperate parts of the whole world ; but they are now 
confined to Africa, and some parts of Asia. The African 
Lion stands four or five feet high, and his body is from 
seven to nine feet long. The mane is thick, and some- 
what curly ; and the colour varies in different parts of 
Africa, but it is generally of a clear dark brown, deepen- 
ing in some cases almost into black. The Asiatic Lions 
are smaller than those of Africa, and their colour paler. 
The Bengal Lion is of a light brown, with a long flow- 
ing mane ; the Persian Lion is of a sort of cream-colour, 
with a short thick mane; and the Lion of Guzerat is 
of a reddish brown, without any mane. These varie- 
ties have been considered as distinct species by some 
naturalists. 
All the varieties agree in their habits ; they lie hid in 
jungles in the long grass, and when aroused either walk 
quietly and majestically away, or turn and look steadily 
at their pursuers. Their roar is terrific : and in a wild 
state, the animal generally roars with his mouth close 
to the ground, which produces a low rumbling noise, 
like that of an earthquake. The effect is described by 
those who have heard it, as making the stoutest heart 
quail ; and the feebler animals, when they hear it, fly in 
dismay, often in their terror falling in the way of their 
enemy, instead of avoiding him. Serpents, and some of 
the larger animals, will, however, fight with Lions, and 
occasionally kill them ; and Lions, when pursued by man, 
are sometimes hunted with dogs, but are oftener shot, or 
speared. Those which are exhibited in menageries have 
generally been caught in pits. The pit is dug where 
traces have been discovered of a Lion's path ; and it 
is then covered with sticks and turf. He is deceived by 
the appearance of solidity presented by the turf, and 
attempts to walk over it ; but the moment he sets his 
foot upon the covering of the trap, it breaks beneath his 
weight, and he falls into the pit. He is then kept with- 
out food for several days, shaking the ground with his 
